Aggies check in at 20 in preseason coaches poll

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M, with many questions to answer at quarterback and on defense, starts this season ranked 20th in the preseason Amway coaches poll from USA Today.

The Aggies are coming off a 9-4 season with a win over Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but have lost 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel to the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

Third-year A&M coach Kevin Sumlin offered some insight on Wednesday during an informal lunch with media members on how he approaches each season with his team.

“I don’t sit down and circle games and say, ‘We have to win this or we have to do that,’” Sumlin said. “That’s y’all’s job – it’s the fans’ job. Last year I didn’t say, ‘Hold on, we’re not there yet,’ and in (2012) I didn’t say, ‘Oh, no, we’re going to get our brains beat in!’ I can’t do that.

“It’s my job to get the most out of our team, and the only way we can do that is to expect to win every game.”

From USA Today on what to expect from the Aggies:

“Kevin Sumlin and his staff certainly know how to develop talent, but expecting the Aggies’ offense to perform at the same level following the departure of Johnny Manziel and WR Mike Evans is unrealistic. Or is it? Whether Kenny Hill or Kyle Allen takes the opening snap, there’s plenty of talent up front and in the backfield. The defense, particularly the secondary, must shore itself up quickly with that opening date at South Carolina looming.”

Defending national champion Florida State, with Heisman winner Jameis Winston back as a sophomore, leads the preseason poll, followed by SEC powerhouse Alabama. The Crimson Tide are one of six SEC programs (Auburn at five, South Carolina at nine, Georgia at 12, LSU at 13 and Mississippi at 19) ahead of the Aggies in the preseason poll.

Among the state’s schools, Big 12 champion Baylor checks in at 10 and Texas at 24. This marks the first year of the College Football Playoff, with four teams selected at the end of the regular season to vie for the championship.